Apparatus for threading conduits.



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PATNT THOMAS A. OALLAHAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

APPARATUS FOR THREADIN G CONDUITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,845, dated. October1, 1 0

Application filed January 17, 1901. Serial No. 43,588. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. CALLAHAN, of the city of St. Louis, Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Threading Conduits, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part hereof.;

This invention relates to an apparatus for threading conduits; and itconsists of the novel construction, combination,and arrangement of partshereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Devices of this character heretofore have been constructed with meansfor advancing the machine within the conduits; but whenever it becamenecessary for any reason to withdraw them much difficulty has beenencountered and no special means has been provided for such backwardmovement.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus of theclass mentioned and for analogous purposes which can be moved in eitherdirection by the proper ma nipulation of the operating devices.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing the device in operativeposition. Fig. 2 is a view showing the parts in their'normal orstationary position. Fig. 3 is a view showing the position of the partswhile in the act of advancing. Fig. 4 is a sectional view takenon theline a, a of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line b b ofFig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 0 c of Fig. 2. Theseviews are all looking to the right. Fig. 7 is a view showing theposition which the friction-plates assume when the device is movedbackward.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 denotes the upper rod, which istubular, and attached to the rear end of which is a small plate 2.

3 indicates the lower tubular rod, which is of the same length as therod 1, and attached to the forward end of which is a plate 4, similar tothe plate 2. The said plate 2 is rigid with the rod 1 and is providedwith an opening within which the rod 3 operates. The plate 4 is providedwith a like opening for the reception of the rod 1. flange 5 is rigidwith the forward end of the rod 1 and prevents the said rod from beingAn enlargement or which are at a suitable remove from each 2 otherandbetween which is mounted a strong coil-spring 8, one end of whichabuts against the rear flange 7 and the forward end bears against thefriction-plate 9. The said friction-plate 9 is provided with anelongated opening, whereby it is permitted to lie at an incline atcertain times duringthe operation of the device. In the upper side ofthe said plate 9 is formed a notch or slot 10, within which the rod 1operates and which permits the said plate to move to an inclinedposition, as above mentioned. From this it appears that the tendency ofthe spring 8 is to hold the plate 9 in a "ertical position, from whichit is moved by the movement of the operating-rod, which I will nowdescribe.

The operating-rod 11 is carried in openings formed in the end plates 2and 4 between the rods 1 and 3. An elongated opening 12 is formed in theplate 9, which permits it to assumeaninclined position wheneverrequired. A frame 13, consising of two parallel members, has an openingformed in its forward end, through which the rod 11 projects, and therear ends of the two members are bent downwardly and operate withinopenings formed, in the brackets 14, the said brackets being secured tothe upper end of the plate 9. A lug 15 is rigid with the rod 11 a shortdistance in front of the rear end of the frame 13, and whenever the saidrod 11 is drawn rearwardly the lug 15 bears against the frame 13, movingthe said frame and drawing the plate 9 into an inclined position, asshown in Fig. 7. This permits the free movement of the forward end ofthe device, which may be continued so long as the plate 9 is in theinclined position shown. Whenever the rod 11 is released, the plate 9 ismoved to a vertical position by the spring 8, and whenever in thisposition the ends of the said plate engage against the inner side of theconduit-pipe, and thereby hold the machine rigidly in position. Near therear end of the plate 1 are two enlargements or flanges 16,corresponding to the flanges 7, and a spring 17 is mounted around thesaid rod 1, and the forward end thereof bears against the friction-plate18, mounted upon the rod 1 in the same manner as the plate 9 is mountedupon the rod 3. The lower side of the friction-plate 18 is provided witha notch or depression 19, which permits its movement over the rod 3 toassume the different positions shown in the drawings. The lower side ofthe said plate 18 is provided with a horizontal extension 20, thepurpose of which is to prevent the said plate from becoming caught orfastened in any crevices or cracks which might be encountered in passingthrough the conduitpipe. The frame 13, in addition to the function aboveascribed to it, performs the same function in holding the plate 9 out ofcracks in the conduit-pipe.

21 indicates a small pulley which is mounted within a slot formed in therear end of the rod or pipe 1, and a rope or similar connection 22 ispassed into the end of the pipe and outwardly over the said pulley 21,and the inner end of the rope is drawn backward and attached to theflange 6. A pulley 23 is attached to the rear end of the rod 11, and arope 24 is passed over the said pulley and the rear end thereof isattached to an eye 25, secured to the end of the rod or pipe 3.

26 indicates a rope extending through the pipe or rod 3 and which ispassed over asmall pulley 27, carried in a slot formed in the for wardend of the said pipe, and the rear end of the said rope is attached to aprojection rigid with the pipe or rod 1.

The operation of the device is as follows: The apparatus is startedwithin the conduitpipe with the parts substantially in the positionshown in Fig. 1. The operator then draws the rope 26 toward the rear, bywhich operation the plate 9 becomes fixed in the pipe, and the plate 18is drawn forwardly with the rod 1, for the reason that its lower end isfree to move, thereby allowing the said plate to assume an inclinedposition. WVhen the rods have been extended into the position shown inFig. 3 and the'plates 9 and 18 are close to each other, the operatorengages the rope 22 to advance the lower rodS and release the plate 9.By drawing rearwardly on the rod 1 the plate 18 becomes fixed in theconduit-pipe and the rod 3 is advanced, the upper end of the plate 9being pressed to the rear by the forward move.- ment of the said rod 3.After the rod 1 has been advanced until the plates 9 and 18 are adjacentto each other the rope 26 is released and the rope 22 is again operated,as above described. The operation is repeated continually andalternately advancing the rods by the process which 1 have justdescribed. In case any obstacle is encountered within the conduit-pipe,so that the device can be advanced no farther, it may be drawn out bydrawing the rods or pipes 1 and 3 into the position shown in Fig. 3. Theoperator then engages the rope 21, which draws the rod 11 rearwardly,and the lug 15 is brought to bear against the lower end of the frame 13,which will draw the plate 9 into an inclined position, as shown in Fig.7. A lug 28, similar to the lug 15, engages against the front side ofthe plate 18 and forces the same into an inclined position, shown inFig. '7. After the plates have been moved into this position their endsno longer contact with the inner surface of the conduit-pipe and themachine may be drawn out by drawing on any of the ropes attachedthereto. From this it appears that in addition to providing an improvedmeans for advancing the machine within the conduit-pipe I have alsoprovided means whereby it may be drawn out in case necessity arises.

I claim- 1. An apparatus for threading conduits, consisting of two rodsor pipes supported adjacent. to each other, friction-plates carried bysaid rods or pipes, an operating-rod and means for moving said rod tooperate the friction-plates, substantially asspecified 2. An apparatusfor threading conduits, consisting of two parallel pipes, movablyattached together, ropes connected to said pipes for moving themrelative to each other, friction-plates carried by said pipes, a rod forreleasing the friction-plates in the conduit, and means for operatingsaid rod, substantially as specified.

3. A conduit-threading apparatus, consisting of two parallel pipes, aspring-held friction-plate carried by each of said pipes, a rod forreleasing the plates, a rope for moving said rod and means for movingthe device in either direction, substantially as specified.

a. An apparatus for threading conduits, consisting of two long parallelrods or pipes supported adjacent to each other, a friction plate carriedby each of said pipes, means for clutching the said plates within theconduit, a rod for releasing the plates, means for moving said rod andmeans for moving the device in either direction, substantially asspecified.

5. An apparatus for threading conduits, consist-in g of two rods orpipes supported adjacent to each other, a friction-plate carried by eachof said pipes, a rope passing through each of the said pipes and havingits opposite end attached to the other pipe, and means for advancing thedevice within" the conduit when the said ropes are operated.

6. An apparatus for threading conduits, consisting of two rods or pipessupported adjacent to each other, a friction-plate carried by each ofsaid pipes for preventing backward movement, means for holding saidfriction-plates in substantially vertical position within the conduit, arod for drawing both of said friction-plates into an inclined position,a rope for operating the rod, ropes passing through the said pipes, eachof said ropes having its end attached to the other pipe than the onethrough which it passes, means for advancing the pipes when the ropesare 0pcrslit through which it passes, means for advanc ing said pipeswhen the ropes are operated, and means whereby the device may bewithdrawn out of the conduit.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS A. CALLAHAN.

ated, and means for drawing the said device to the rear when the saidplates are inclined, substantially as specified.

7. An apparatus for threading conduits, consisting of two pipessupported adjacent to each other and each carrying a pulley supported ina slot formed in the said pipe, ropes passing through the said pipes andover the Witnesses: said pulleys, each of said ropes having its ALFREDA. EIOKS, 10 end attached to the other pipe than the one I J. D. RIPPEY.

